20 INTERVIEW
Kevin Thomas
K
evin Thomas and his wife, Sandra, exemplify what love, life, marriage and Christianity are all about. Christians for 33 and 38 years respectively, four years ago the couple were living the good life. Kevin worked in a high-powered job as European E-commerce Business Manager for a blue-chip company, whilst his wife, Sandra, was Head of Spiritual Care in the NHS for Birmingham and Solihull. Both served in leadership ministry and were just enjoying loving each other, their two children and serving humanity through Christian service. However, in 2009, their idyllic life was shattered when Sandra suffered a brain aneurysm that left her partially paralysed. Kevin gave up work to become her full-time carer. Despite their experiences, Kevin still serves in ministry and is currently a Regional Overseer of Renewal Christian Centre in Solihull, West Midlands. He and his wife spoke to Keep The Faith about their life, the challenges they experience, and the enduring faith they have in God and their love for each other.
KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): Your marriage is definitely a case of Christian love and sacrifice in action. How did you and Sandra meet, and what made you decide she was the woman for you? KEVIN THOMAS (KT): I first saw Sandra after one of the first morning services I attended after becoming a Christian. The very first moment I saw her, I knew our lives were destined to be together. As I was a new Christian, I didn’t know how to approach a Christian girl, so over the following months I prayed
about it and, after a while and a very clear word from God, my convictions grew stronger. She, however, took a lot longer to convince! KTF: What made you decide Kevin was the man for you? SANDRA THOMAS (ST): I’d been serving in church a few years before I met Kevin and, at first, saw him as another young brother in church. When his feelings towards me became apparent, I gave him a wide berth; it took seven years - and a couple of failed attempts at courtship - before we finally got together. One thing that really made an impression on me was when a young pregnant mother in our congregation was due to give birth to her first child. The baby was breeched and needed to turn around for a safe delivery. We met as a congregation to pray for her. The way Kevin prayed for her and the unborn child was filled with so much passion and care, it made me see him in a totally different light, and think that if I were married and in that same position, I’d like the person I get married to to pray for me exactly like that. That was the turning point. Almost three decades later, here we are today. KTF: When did you get called into ministry, and how did you go about pursuing your calling?
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KT: As a young Christian, I had a great passion for the Word of God, and realised that God had given me a pastoral heart and teaching gift. I also had an aptitude for anything technical. Initially, I just served by doing whatever needed doing, but I sensed that the more I served in ministering the Word, leadership or counselling, the more aware I became of God using me. Over time, my pastoral and teaching gift became the most prominent, and up until Sandra became ill, I served as part of the leadership team at our local congregation and as a Regional Overseer. KTF: Your life was totally transformed when your wife suffered a brain aneurysm. Can you recall that fateful day? KT: Yes. It was early Saturday morning on 12th September 2009. We were both due to attend a wedding. Sandra, a minister at the time, was also going to conduct the ceremony. She awoke at around 7am and complained about an overwhelming headache; the pain became so intense that she collapsed in our bedroom. I called the ambulance and texted a few friends, asking them to pray. The ambulance came very quickly, which was a miracle because our home is along a very obscure driveway. Sandra was rushed to hospital and didn’t regain consciousness.